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Province in need of Child Advocate: Aylward

Posted|January 26, 2016

STRATFORD – PEI’s
Opposition Health Critic is calling on government to hire a Child Advocate to
represent the needs of Island children in high-risk family
situations.

“We have been
calling for a child advocate ever since the tragic Campbell-Hennessey inquest.
It was the recommendation of the jury, of the Chief Coroner of our province, the
PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women and it has been ignored by this
government,” said Stratford-Kinlock MLA James Aylward.

Aylward said he
was pleased with Monday’s announcement that government is reviewing the Child
Protection Act, but warns that this province needs a Child Advocate
now.

“The Premier says
he wants to assess the costs. I don’t think you can put a price on the life of a
child. This province and our Premier need to protect our children
now.”Prince Edward
Island is the only province in Canada that does not provide a Child
Advocate.

“It is time our
children and our families had the protection that is afforded to children in
other provinces,” said Aylward. “The recommendation from the Campbell-Hennessey
inquest was clear, we don’t need to do a study we already know what to do, we
need to hire a child advocate.”